Columbia Bank branches provided donation bins for warm winter wear. Donations will be accepted at all bank branches until January 31, 2016.

TACOMA, Wash., Jan. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Local homeless shelters and relief organizations will be receiving generous donations from Columbia Bank branches this winter season due to a highly successful community fundraising effort by the bank during the month of December that raised more than $130,000 in 30 days. This amount includes a $25,000 contribution from Columbia Bank.

The Warm Hearts Winter Drive was created in response to the urgent needs of people struggling with homelessness in the communities surrounding all 149 Columbia Bank branches in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Local homeless shelters receive donations of cash and warm winter items. One-hundred percent of contributions will be distributed directly to shelters and relief organizations in the communities where they were collected.

Due to urgent need across the Northwest, Columbia Bank will be expediting the delivery of the donations to shelters this week while continuing donation and collection activities in branches, concluding January 31. Columbia Bank in Washington raised more than $77,000, Oregon branches raised more than $44,800, and Idaho's nine branches raised more than $9,300.

"This speaks to the generosity of the Columbia Bank community," said Melanie Dressel, president and CEO of Columbia Bank. "Together with the remarkable support of our wonderful customers, we have surpassed our Warm Hearts Winter Drive goal. The campaign has made, and will continue to make, a difference in the lives of people in need across all of the communities we serve. I am proud of what we have accomplished together."

Homelessness is affecting the Northwest more than ever, with more than 34,000 people living on the streets on any given night. The challenges faced by homeless individuals and families increases exponentially during the cold winter months.

There is still time to donate to the Warm Hearts Winter Drive, ending January 31, 2016. Donations can be made by:

Cash donation: Customers and community members are invited to make a donation at their local branch or online at columbiabank.com. Donations will be used by local shelters in the communities of each bank branch to purchase warm winter goods. One-hundred percent of all cash donations will go directly to support local, community-based homeless shelters or relief organizations.

Donation of winter goods: Each branch will also have a collection box for those who wish to donate gloves, hats, socks, shoes, coats, long underwear and other warm winter attire. One-hundred percent of all winter wear donations will go directly to support local, community-based homeless shelters or relief organizations.

Columbia Bank employees will be presenting donations to their local homeless shelters and relief organizations throughout the winter season. For more information on the Warm Hearts Winter Drive, please visit warmheartswinterdrive.com.

Columbia Bank has been serving the Northwest since 1993. For branch locations and more information, visit www.columbiabank.com.

About Columbia BankHeadquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Columbia Banking System, Inc., is the holding company of Columbia Bank, a Northwest regional community bank, ranked as the best bank headquartered in Washington and 17th in the nation by Forbes Magazine. For the ninth consecutive year, the bank was named in 2015 as one of Puget Sound Business Journal's "Washington's Best Workplaces" and is the 2015 recipient of the Business Examiner's Top Places to Work as a large employer in the South Sound region.

Columbia Bank operates 149 banking offices and branches throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. More information about Columbia can be found on its website at www.columbiabank.com.